£250,000 worth of illegal vape and tobacco products seized in Portsmouth
Significant enforcement operation sees shops raided
A major haul of illegal vapes and tobacco has been seized from shops and homes in Portsmouth.
Alongside the police, Trading Standards officers raided a number of commercial and residential properties in North End where an estimated £250,000 of non-compliant vape products, illegal tobacco and cash was discovered.
A Portsmouth Trading Standards spokesperson said: “Following intelligence-led investigations, Trading Standards officers executed a number of court-issued entry warrants at commercial and residential properties. During the operation, a very large quantity of illegal tobacco products and non-compliant vape products were seized, along with a substantial amount of cash believed to be linked to the proceeds of criminal activity.
“Early estimates place the value of the seized products and cash at approximately £250,000. Illegal tobacco and vapes are not ‘cheap alternatives’ to legal products. Counterfeit and illicit tobacco products are often manufactured in unregulated environments with no quality controls and can contain even higher levels of harmful substances than legal tobacco.
“While all smoking products are harmful to health, counterfeit tobacco may expose users to additional unknown chemicals and contaminants, increasing the risks to their health.”
Following the raids, Trading Standards are calling for anyone who knows of any shops, individuals or addresses involved in the supply of illegal tobacco or vape products to report it to them via www.portsmouth.gov.uk/report-trading-standards.